I just enjoyed five pints of Koutska 12 at Avenue Pub in New Orleans. My initial take of the beer was it had a citrusy nose and hop character, but this faded with subsequent pours. Perhaps, my previous food offering had jaded my palate. With each pint I became more enamored with the beer's dry initial taste and smooth finish that was somewhat resiny but well-balanced. I am a particular fan of Pilsner Urquell and have tried Heater Allen Pils And Mahr's Ungespundet Hefetrube and can say that I like Koutska 12 as well or even better. Price was $7/pint but worth it! Enjoy!!

Poured into a shaker pint glass. Pours a medium golden amber with a half finger white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of grassy European hops, biscuit malt. Flavor follows, with a very well balanced biscuit and traditional hops and and a hint of citrus, grassy hop finish. Medium bodied with active carbonation. A very nice, balanced pilsner with a satisfying malt profile and well integrated hops. It is so nice to try this classic style Czech pilsner without skunking and ravages of age. This helps me understand how this became such a classic and long lasting style. Glad I had a chance to try it.

The beer poured a slightly hazed, medium amber color and was topped by an inch-tall, tight, sudsy head of bone white foam. As the the head receded, thin rings of lacing coated the glass.

The nose was pretty interesting. It was semi-sweet initially with some doughy and bready malt notes. Later, grassy hops took over. A crisp, dry, powdery yeastiness came forth as well. Eventually, it was back to the sweet, bready malts, and then the hops, etc.

The flavor profile was much drier and hoppier than the nose. Crackery malt notes made a brief appearance on the front end before being washed away by the hops. Lots of grassy, Saaz-style hops. Somewhat lemony. Slightly earthy. The beer finished with a huge dose of crisp, dry, minty hops that lingered on my palate long after each sip.

The mouthfeel was definitely the most impressive aspect of this beer. It was quite creamy and smooth. A fine, tongue blanketing effervescence gave the liquid a pillowy soft quality.

Koutská 12° is certainly an authentic, well crafted rendition of a Czech Pilsner, but I would have enjoyed a bit more complexity in the flavor profile. With such an intense hop presence, this reminded me a lot of Moonlight Brewing's Reality Czeck.

Dry herbal aroma, light apple esters, dry crackery malt. Hoppy and dry. Flavors are similar, it finishes dry with a firm herbal hoppiness that lingers for awhile. Some light breadiness, dry and crockery, with a mildly fruity apple ester from the yeast. Not overly sweet like so many Czech Pils', this is more dry and drinkable. Simple and effective with enough hop nuances to keep you interested.

If this was the house Czech beer instead of Samson at Johnnie's (RIP), i'd have been in there every day. Probably the best Czech Pils that i've crossed paths with.